Sheet feeder and positioner for typewriters



Jan. 7, 1941. L. F. HAGEMAN 2,227,643

SHEET FEEDER AND POSITIONER FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed April 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheefl 4 7 Ezv'eniqn Louis E Hayeman Jan. 7, 1941. L. F. HAGEMAN SHEET FEEDER AND POSITIONER FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed April l0 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Louis E Hays nan fig flflornej.

Patented Jeri. 7,1941

PATENT OFFICE v 2,227,643 suns-r manna AND POSITIONER roa ,rrrnwnmins Louis I. Hageman, Niagara-Falls, n.1, alsign'or to American Sales Book Company, Ina, Niagara Falls, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application April 10; 1939, No. 267,049

1o Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in writing machines such as typewriters, recording machines, tabulating machines, and the like, and l more particularly to improved means for sup porting and feeding, into writing position in the machine, record units such as single record sheets or unitary assemblages of record sheets and transfer sheets. It is a general object of theiinvention to provide an improved supporting magazine with an improved feed initiating device for machines of the class mentioned which is well adapted for supporting a supply or stack of record units and automatically feeding them one after another into writing position on the machine platen.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved supply magazine and feed initiating device of the class mentioned which can be readily attached to standard writing machines 20 of the class mentioned without material alteration thereof and without interference with the machine operating mechanism. Still another object of the invention is to provide for machines'of the class mentioned a record as supply supporting magazine having an improved feed initiating mechanism adapted to be connected for actuation to the operating mechanism of the machine so as to initiate feeding movement of the record units or assemblies from the 0 magazine sequentially one after another into writing position on the machine platen.

A further object of the invention is to pro- 45 and with no material alterations of various standard writing machines.

Other objects of the invention will be in D v pointed out in the following detailed description of an illustrative but preferred embodiment of so the invention and will be in part obvious in connection therewith.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements,

and arrangement. of parts, which will be exemplifled in the construction hereinafter, set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more complete disclosure of the nature and objects of' the invention reference is had to the following detailed description of the illustrative preferred embodiment, and to the accompanylnx drawings in which:

Figi 1 is a perspective view of a typewriting machine of, generally known construction and having the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the feed initiating mechanism parts being broken away and-in section Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section of the machine shown in Fig. 1, illustrating the supply magazine and feed initiating mechanism, parts of .the machine being omitted and parts being shown in elevation;

4 is a detail perspective view of one of the rear supporting brackets for the supply stack of so record units: and

Fig. 5 is a detail transverse vertical section ,through the magazine showing one of the frictional control elements for the record units of the supply stack. I

Referring to the drawings for adetailed de-' scription of the embodiment of the invention there shown, a typewriting mac c ll of generally known construction is fit with the improvements. While the invention may be applied to writing machines of difle'rent standard type such as billing machines, tabulators, and the like, it is shown as being applied to a typewriter of standard construction. This typewriter is provided with a standard rotary platen ll mounted on a carriage I! which may be constructed and arranged in well-known manner for effectin letter spacing and upper and lower case shift movements. Operating keys II are arranged in the form of a keyboard in the usual manner and 40 are connected for actuation of type bars ll. Pressure rolls II are mounted to press the record sheets or units into close contact with the periphery of the platen ll. These pressure rolls may be mounted in the usual manner upon a supporting arm I pivoted at I! and arranged for operation by a manually controlled member It. The platen may be'rotated for feeding the record paper by means of knobs or hand wheels it, Other details of constructionof the typewriting machine may conformv to standard practice,

At the rear of the platen II is the record supply magazine I. which is constructed and arranged for simporting a supp y of record sheets or record units A arranged in astack ii in the 5 may vary specifically, the present improvements are adapted for utilizing manifolding sets or record units ordinarily embodying two or more record sheets with at least one interleaved carbon sheet all bound together into a unitary assemblage. Record units of this type are exemplified in the unitary manifolding assembly disclosed in the Stevens Patent No. 2,120,161, issued June 7, 1938. While the bound ends of the record units may be positioned at the rear or longitudinal side edges of the stack 2|, it is preferable to position them at the forward end of the stack so that the bindings are at the advance ends of the units as they pass into writing position on the platen.

,As shown in the illustrative embodiment, the supp y magazine 20 is mounted on the typewriting machine by means of laterally disposed supporting brackets 22 carrying transverse supporting rods 23 engaging downwardly turned flanges or brackets 24 on the bottom plates 25 of the magazine. These supporting flanges or brackets Since the frame member 28 moves laterally of the machine with the carriage l2 during letter spacing, the magazine 20 is mounted for similar riage.

movement. But the magazine 20 does not move verticallyduring vertical shifting movement of the carriage since the frame member 28 is separate from the vertical shifting part of the car-. By means of this simple structure the magazine may be very readily attached to existing standard machines without any material alteration thereof. 3

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the bottom sections or plates 25 of the supply magazine are convexed position. At their rearward extremities these supporting sections 25 are inclined downwardly toward the rear while the forward parts are similarly'downwardly and forwardly inclined adjacent to the rearward or sheet entry side. of the platen H. As seen in Fig. 3 this forwardly and downwardly inclined part of the convex supporting bottom 25 overlaps at the upper surface of the paper table or guide plate which is also forwardly and downwardly inclined and terminates at its lower forward edge close to the platen surface. Thus, the supporting bottom 25 and the paper table or guide plate provide a downwardly inclined continuous passageway through which the record units pass from the supply stack 2| to the platen. By means of this upwardly curved or convexed bottom the assembly or stack of recrd units is stabilized in its normal operative positionin the magazine. A rearward terminal plate 28 is attached to the magazine in position for supporting engagement with the rear end of the supply stack, preferably being bent as shown to form a pocket to receive the adjacent end of the stack. In order to accommodate record units of diiierent lengths, this supporting plate 29 is provided with a longitudinal slot 30 for receiving supply pack 2i.

magazine. While these record sheets or units attaching lugs- 3|, one or more of which is provided with a threaded nut whereby the supporting plate may be retained in adjusted position.

Each of the outer edges of the bottom sections 25 of the magazine is provided with an upwardly extending guide flange 32 preferably arranged at substantially right angles with the bottom plates 25 and forming retaining guides for the supply stack 2|.

These guide flanges may be adjusted to accommodate record units of different widths by sliding the sections 25 along the supporting rods 23. Each of the guide flanges 32 has an opening 33 for receiving frictional restraining elements 34 adapted to engage with the opposite longitudinal edges of the record units A of the As best shown in Fig. 5, each friction restraining element 34 has a base 35 attached to a supporting plate 36 that has an attaching extension 31 provided with a resilient or yielding attaching clasp 38 adapted to slide on over the upper edge of the guide flange 32. When this attaching clasp 38 is thus engaged with the flange 32 as shown in Fig. 5, the frictional controlling element is supported in operative posi-,

tion within the opening 33.

' While different forms of friction elements 34 can be used successfully, a particularly effective embodiment is disclosed which utilizes filamentary elements or bristles supported in substantially parallel relation with each other in a group or bunch in the base 35 in the manner of an ordinary bristle brush. The inner ends of these bristles extend into frictional contact with the adjacent longitudinal edges of the record units A so as to exert frictional restraint to advancement thereof and at the same time to retain the record units of the stack in correct assembled position in the magazine. The ends of the bristles will enter slightly between the record unitsfor this purpose. The supporting shank 31 of the control element 34 is preferably of spring metal so as to yieldingly urge the bristles into controlling contact with the record units.

For the purpose of initiating movement of each individual record unit A from the supply stack 2i an improved feed starting mechanism is utilized. In the preferred embodiment this feed starting mechanism includes a swinging supporting frame indicated generally at 39 which has a swinging support arm 40 pivotally attached to the end portion of the platen shaft or spindle 4|. For this purpose the attached end of the arm 40 has a supporting hub 42 through which the shaft 4| extends. If the original platen shaft is of insufficient length for making this attachment and for providing space for the auxiliary operating means, a short shaft extension may be applied at the adjacent end of the original platen shaft. A transverse supporting frame member I! is attached to the arm l0 preferably being integral therewith and is provided at its outer or free end with a supporting extension N in which the adjacent outer end of the starter shaft or spindle I5 is journalled. At its opposite end the shaft 45 is journalled in a bearing in the outer end of the swinging arm 40.

Adjustably mounted upon the starter shaft 45 so as to be attached at different points therealong isthe frictional starter element 05. The starter element 45 asrshown is preferably in the form of a friction wheel or roller adapted-to engage the adjacent upper surface of the record units in the supply stack. This starter wheel is ordinarily made of some substance affording frictional starting contact with the record unit surface to provide the necessary starting effort. A suitable material for this purpose and one affording the requisite frictional contact effort is soft rubber, and sponge rubber is very well adapted and preferred for this purpose.

Driving mechanism for thefrictional starter wheel 46 includes a toothed gear wheel 41 meshing with a toothed idler 48 mounted for rotation upon a stub shaft or spindle 49 attached-to the swinging arm 40. The stub shaft 49 may be in the form of a cylinder appropriately attached at its inner end to the arm 40 and having a central bore for receiving an attaching screw 5|] threaded at its inner end to the arm 40. The toothed idler 48 meshes in turn with the toothed pinion 5| secured to the adjacent end of the starter shaft 45. It will thusbe seen that the frictional feed starting wheel 46 will be rotated through this train of toothed gears when the platen H is ro-- tated for effecting feeding movement of the record unit. The feed starting effort of the starter 46 will be in the same direction as the feeding effort exerted by the periphery of the platen. The toothed elements 41, 48 and 5| are preferably made of fiberboard, thus reducing the weight, avoiding rattling.

A housing 52 is preferably provided for the toothed gears, being in the form of a finished metal plate and having an in-turned marginal flange. It is attached in position by means of the binding screw 50 passing through an aperture in the plate. The platen shaft extension 4| also extends through an opening in the housing plate and forms a support for said housing.

The swinging starter frame 39 carries a guide plate 53 attached to the upper surface of the transverse frame member 4-3 and positioned for guiding engagement with the record sheet or unit as it passes from the upper surface of the platen. An additional guide plate 54 is also attached to the swinging frame 39 and positioned for guiding engagement with the record unit to guide the latter in its movement from the supply stack into engagement with the receiving side of the platen. As shown, the guide 54 may be constructed as an integral unit with the guide plate 53 and is ordinarily preferably made in the form of a light yielding metallic plate. The entire starter frame assembly is very light and yet sufficiently strong to. perform its functions effectively.

The supply stacks of record units may be very readily loaded into the magazine from above. Loading can be facilitated by swinging the starter frame 39 outwardly a short distance from its normal operative position. When the stack is thus placed in position, the ends of the bristles of the friction brush will engage with the longitudinal edges of the record units, aiding in retaining the latter in position on the magazine, and offering light frictional restraint to movement of the record units.

Due to the upwardly convexed surface of the lower supporting plates 25 of the magazine, the opposite longitudinal ends of the record units will swing down or depend slightly from the middle portions thereof thus tending to retain them in their initial position in the magazine. When the starter frame is lowered, the starter wheel 46 will engage in frictional contact with the upper surface of the upper record unit. Ordinarily the starter wheel will be maintained in its operative position by gravity but if desired a spring could be utilized for this purpose. Also, it will be noticed that rotation of the platen in forwardfeeding direction tends to impart movement of the starter wheel into frictional contact with the record units.

When it is desired to feed one of the record unitsA forwardly from the stack 2| into position on the platen, the platen is rotated thus causing feed starting action of the friction starter 46. This action starts forward movement of the top record unit from the stack 2 I When the forward edge reaches the grip between the platen II and the pressure rolls IS, the feeding action of the unit is then effected by platen rotation supplemented by the starter 46. Typing of the record unit is then effected in the usual manner. When the typing is completed, the platen may be rotated to a suflicient extent to entirely free the unit from the platen. During this feeding movement, the record units of the supply stack underneath the top unit will remain stationary in the magazine, being retained there by the action of the friction control elements 34 and by the convex structure of the magazine bottom. Just as soon as the rear end of the typed record unit passes the friction starter 46 the latter comes into'engagement with the next successive record unit to initiate its feeding movement toward the platen. In this manner it will be seen that the record units will be fed sequentially one after another from the supply stack to and beyond the platen.

Instead of rotating the platen by means of the hand wheel |9 after completion of the typing, the typed record unit can be freed from the platen by grasping its outer end and pulling it out so as to cause platen rotation. During such action the friction starter 46 is actuated to start the next unit in the same manner as when the platen is rotated by means of the hand wheel I 9. As shown it is preferable that the forward and rearward edges of the record units of the supply stack 2| are progressively offset from each other or fanned, thus facilitating the starting and feeding action of the individual record units.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a rotary platen, a magazine at one side of said platen for supporting a supply of record units, said magazine having an upwardly convexed supporting bottom which is downwardly inclined forwardly adjacent to the rear side of the platen and holding the supply in upwardly convexed position, means including a swingably mounted friction member operatively connected for simultaneous actuation with platen rotation for sequentially initiating feeding movement to-- ward said platen of said record units one at a time, a unit guide mounted for swinging movement with said friction member for guiding the units to the platen from said friction member, and a friction device at said magazine in engagement with the edges of said record units at the upwardly convexed parts thereof to retain them in position in the magazine and to exert frictional restraint to advancement thereof;

2. Ina machine of the character described, in

combination, a rotary platen, a magazine adja-- cent to the platen for supporting a supply of record units, said magazine having an upwardly convexed supporting bottom which is downwardly inclined forwardly adjacent to the rear of the platen where the forward end portion of the 6 supply of record units is similarly downwardly inclined, a paper table downwardly inclined at the rear of said platen, said forwardly inclined part of said supporting bottom overlapping the similarly downwardly inclined paper table to 10 form a downwardly inclined passageway to the platen, means operatively connected for simultaneous actuation with platen rotation for sequentially initiating movement of said record units one at a time toward said platen, said last mentioned means including a friction feed starting member engaging with the record units at the forwardly inclined end portion thereof and between the latter and the later mentioned friction device, and a friction device laterally adjacent to the convexed part of the bottom of said magazine in engagement with said record units to retain them in position in the magazine and to exert frictional restraint to advancement thereof.

3. In a machine of the character described, in

combination, a rotary platen, a magazine adjacent to the platen for supporting a supply of record units, said magazine having an upwardly convexed supporting bottom which is downwardly inclined forwardly adjacent to the rear of the platen where the forward end portion of the supply of record units is similarly downwardly inclined, said bottom being downwardly inclined rearwardly at the rear of the magazine, a paper table downwardly and forwardly inclined at the rear of said platen, said forwardly inclined part of said supporting bottom overlapping the similarly downwardly inclined paper table to form a downwardly inclined passageway to the platen, means operatively connected for simultaneous actuation with platen rotation for sequentially initiating movement of said record units one at a time toward said platen, said last mentioned means including a friction feed starting member engageable with the record units adjacent to the downwardly inclined forward end portions the1e-' of and between the latter and the later mentioned friction device, and a friction device laterally adjacent tothe convexed part of said supporting bottom including a bunch of bristles having their end portions positioned for engagement with longitudinal edges of the record units to retain the latter in position in the magazine and to exert frictional restraint to advancement thereof.

4. In a machine of the character described, in

combination, a rotary platen, a magazine adjacent to the platen for supporting a supply of record units, said magazine having an upwardly convexed supporting bottom upon which the supply rests in upwardly convexed conditionand which is downwardly inclined forwardly adjacent to the rear of the platen and downwardly inclined rearwardly at the rear of the magazine, feed initiating means mounted for movement to and 55 from the supply of record units and operatively connected for simultaneous actuation with platen rotation for sequentially initiating movement of said record units one at a time toward said platen, a unit guide mounted for movement with said 70 feed initiating means for guiding the units to the platen and a longitudinally adjustable retainer at the rear of said magazine at the rearwardly inclined part of said bottom and having an inclined part for supporting the rear ends of the. stack of record units in fanned condition.

5. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a rotary platen, a magazine adjacent to the platen for supporting a supply of record units, said magazine having an upwardly convexed supporting bottom upon which the sup- 5 ply rests in upwardly convexed condition and which is downwardly inclined at its rear part and downwardly inclined forwardly adjacent to the rear of the platen, feed initiating means operatively connected for simultaneous actuation 10 with platen rotation for sequentially initiating movement of said record units one at a time toward said platen, a friction device laterally adjacent to the convexed part of the bottom of said magazine in engagement with said record units 15 to retain them in position in the magazine and to exert frictional restraint to advancement thereof, said feed initiating means being positioned forwardly of said friction device at the downwardly inclined part of the supply of record units posi- 20 tioned on said downwardly inclined part of the supporting bottom, and a longitudinally adjustable retainer at the rear of said magazine at the rearwardly inclined part of said bottom for supporting the rear ends of the stack of record units. 25

6. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a rotary platen, a magazine adjacent to the platen for supporting a supply stack of record units, said magazine having an upwardly convexed supporting bottom upon which 30 the supply rests in upwardly convexed condition and downwardly inclined forwardly adjacent to the rear of the platen, a friction member in frictional engagement with the upper record unit of the supply stack above the forwardly inclined 35 part of the magazine bottom, driving means connected for simultaneous actuation of said platen and said friction member for initiating movement of said record units one at a time and feeding them over the platen, a swinging supporting 40 frame for said friction member, and a guide carried by said swinging frame and positioned for guiding the record units.

7. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a rotary platen, a magazine adja- 45 cent to the platen for supporting a supply stack of recordunits,said magazine having an upwardly convexed supporting bottom downwardly inclined forwardly adjacent to the rear of the platen and downwardly inclined rearwardly at its rear end 50 portion so as to support the supply stack in upwardly convexed condition with forward and rearward end portions downwardly inclined, a rotary friction member in frictional engagement with the upper record unit of the supply stack 65 above the forwardly inclined part of the magazine bottom and at the forwardly and downwardly inclined end portion of the supply stack, driving means connected for simultaneous actuation of said platen and said rotary friction memher for initiating movement of said record units one at a time and feeding them over the platen, and a friction device at said magazine rearwardly spaced from said rotary friction member and laterally adjacent to the convexed part of said supporting bottom intermediate the forwardly and rearwardly inclined end portions thereof for engagement with said record units to retain them in position in the magazine and to exert frictional restraint to advancement thereof.

In a machine of the character described, in combination, a rotary platen, a magazine adjacent to said platen for supporting a supply stack of record units, a rotary friction member in frictional engagement with the upper record unit of the stack in the magazine, driving means operatively connected for simultaneous actuation of said platen and said rotary friction member for initiating movement of said record units one at a time, a swinging supporting frame for said rotary friction member positioned to the rear of said platen and pivotally mounted at the forward part thereof, and a guide plate attached to said swinging frame and positioned for guiding the record units emerging from the platen.

9. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a rotary platen, a magazine adjacent to said platen for supporting a supply stack of record units, a rotary friction member in frictional engagement with the upper record unit of the stack in the magazine, driving means operatively connected for simultaneous actuation of said platen and said rotary friction member for initiating movement of said record units one at a time, a swinging supporting frame for said rotary friction member positioned to the rear of said platen and mounted at its forward part for swinging movement, and guides carried by said swinging frame and positioned to guide the record units to and from said platen.

10. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a magazine for supporting a supply stack of record units, a friction unit including a bunch of bristles positioned for engagement in frictional relation with the edges of the record units, a guide plate opposed in guiding relation with the edges of the record units and having an opening for receiving said friction unit in operative position, and a yielding supporting attachment between said friction unit and an edge portion of said guide plate supporting said friction unit yieldingly in operative position in said opening and including a supporting'arm con- 

